What We Saw at Night
Like the yearning, doomed young clones in Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, three teenagers with XP (a life-threatening allergy to sunlight) are a species unto themselves. As seen through the eyes of 16-year-old Allie Kim, they roam the silent streets, looking for adventure, while others sleep. When Allie's best friend introduces the trio to Parkour, the stunt-sport of running and climbing off forest cliffs and tall buildings (risky in daylight and potentially deadly by darkness), they feel truly alive, equal to the "daytimers." On a random summer night, while scaling a building like any other, the three happen to peer into an empty apartment and glimpse an older man with what looks like a dead girl. A game of cat-and-mouse ensues that escalates through the underground world of hospital confinement, off-the-grid sports, and forbidden love. Allie, who can never see the light of day, discovers she's the lone key to stopping a human monster.
Series
Series
1 primary book#1 in What We Saw at Night
What We Saw at Night is a 1-book series first released in 2013 with contributions by Jacquelyn Mitchard.
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I wanted to read What We Saw At Night as soon as I noticed that it featured parkour. Not just a sport, but a way of life, I've found parkour fascinating since I first heard about it. A discipline that requires the utmost skill and physical prowess, it's amazing to watch people fly across buildings and scale walls with nothing but their hands. I hoped that Jacquelyn Mitchard could take me into this world, and I was excited for it.
I wasn't disappointed. It is evident that Mitchard has done her research. She describes parkour beautifully, and pinpoints both the beauty and the danger of it. Allie, Rob, and Juliet are brought together by this lifestyle. I'll admit that this part of the book was what I really enjoyed. The problem I had with this book was the inclusion of XP, and how it became the driving force of the story. It required so much explanation, such a repetition of facts, that I soon started skipping pages to get back to the action.
The action picked up again with the inclusion of a murder mystery, and a hidden agenda behind Juliet's behavior. The question of whether or not Allie was in her right mind, and the idea that she might be in danger, pushed the story forward. I'll admit that the suspense factor was a little slow. I think there could have been a few more clues given. However it was a nice addition to the story. Oh, and the ending! I won't spoil, but it's unexpected.
Although What We Saw At Night didn't wow me as much as I had hoped, it was definitely an enjoyable read. I can see the prowess with which Jacquelyn Mitchard is able to weave a story. I am intrigued to read more of her writing as soon as possible. If you are interested in parkour, this is a great way to be introduced to the sport. A mystery with friendship as the backdrop, this is a book that will keep you reading to the end.
